Wales 2016/17 - student fees and grants

National student fee

1st cycle full-time programmes: fees are set by institutions but capped at GBP 9 000 for institutions with an approved tuition fee plan to promote fair access (to safeguard fair access for low income and other under-represented groups) and GBP 4 000 for institutions without a plan. Students are not required to pay up front and can apply for a fee grant.

1st cycle part-time programmes: the maximum fee is GBP 2 625 for Welsh students studying in Wales.

2nd cycle programmes: fees are unregulated and vary widely. The 'most common' shown (GBP 4 121) represents an indicative fee level for research students in 2016/17 set by Research Councils UK.

Short cycle programmes: the same fees apply as for students taking 1st cycle programmes.

1st and 2nd cycle international students: fees are unregulated.

Student grants

1st cycle and short-cycle full-time: students can apply for a fee grant of up to GBP 5 100 and a fee loan of up to GBP 3 900 to cover the full tuition fee. Repayments are income-contingent and set at 9 % of earnings above the threshold of GBP 21 000; interest rates are Retail Price Index plus 3 %.

Loans

The support package also includes a need-based grant and a loan for living costs. The grant amount depends on income, with a maximum of GBP 5 161 for students with a household income of GBP 18 370 or less. In 2014/15, 66.6 % of applicants eligible for support (grant and/or loan) received a grant (37.4 % of applicants received a full grant and 29.2 % a partial grant). The maximum loan for students living in the family home is GBP 4 786. For students living away from home, it is GBP 6 183 and less for students who receive a need-based grant. Repayments are set at 9 % of earnings above the threshold of GBP 21 000; interest rates are Retail Price Index plus 3 %.

1st cycle part-time: students studying a course of at least 25 % intensity, or in short cycle programmes, can apply for a loan to cover the tuition fee. A need-based grant is available to students studying at an intensity of at least 50 %.

2nd cycle: there is no universal support package. 2nd cycle postgraduate non-taught – individual institutions can provide a merit-based grant, which tends to follow the minimum stipend recommended by Research Councils UK, GBP 14 296 for 2016/17.

Tax benefit for student's parents

Tax benefits for parents and family allowances do not play a role in the student support system.

Family allowances

Tax benefits for parents and family allowances do not play a role in the student support system.